6 Ways You Can Maintain Your Roof’s Shingles
Asphalt shingles are a very popular choice for a roofing system, but the material can form leaks in it over the years. If your home’s roof is constructed with shingles, you may not even be aware of the maintenance you should be doing. In order to keep your shingles functioning great, be sure to follow these 6 tips for shingle maintenance.
Remove The Debris
Twigs, leaves, and trash can all find their way onto your roof, all of which can get underneath a single can create damage. Debris is also responsible for helping algae and moss develop, which obstructs how water flows off your roof. Remove debris as soon as you notice it.
Inspect The Flashing
The flashing is what keeps water from getting into your home’s interior. Unfortunately, the flashing can become corroded, which will cause small holes to form in the flashing. Occasionally inspecting the flashing is needed to help ensure that there are not any leaks in the roof.
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This can happen due to hail or strong winds. Loose shingles are simple to fix if you use roofing cement. If you ignore a loose shingle, it can cause more damage to your roof, eventually causing nearby shingles to loosen as well.
Inspect The Sealant/Caulking
Sealants and caulking is what prevents water from getting underneath the shingles, and the material can crack and experience wear and tear as it gets older. Look at the caulking used on your roof, and scrape it off and replace it if it looks cracked and damaged.
Clear Downspouts And Gutters
If your downspouts and gutters are clogged then the water will have nowhere to go. Water will eventually back up in the gutter, and start flowing underneath the bottom row of shingles. The simple solution to this problem is to make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear, especially after the fall when the leaves start falling off the
Whether your shingle roof is leaking or you are just wondering when you might have to replace the whole roof, it is always a good idea to know the general lifespan of your roof. While a roof may live long after its lifespan you may also start to see signs of wear, dealing with these issues can help protect your home from a major disaster.
Are you in need of a new roof? Call the roofing professionals at Acker Roofing! We provide leading new roof services throughout Walnut Creek, CA, Concord, CA, Danville, CA and surrounding communities. Sometimes the roof on your home can reach the end of its natural life due to age and other times it can be due to cracks, bald spots, moss, dark streaks and chimney flashing as some of the issues. When you need a new roof refer to the contractors who will save you time and money at Acker Roofing!
A roof leak can ruin inventory, documents and equipment in a business or destroy the carpeting, furniture and art in a home. Moreover, the leak can damage floor joists, wall supports and rafters, resulting in repairs that can be costly as well as highly disruptive.
Did you know that the weather changes impact your shingled roof? Even if you have had new roofing installed within the last few years, the cold winter season and rainy spring weather can already be damaging your beautiful shingles and compromising the durability of your roof. The reason for this is that as your shingles freeze and then thaw out again, they shrink and then expand, which leads to potential shingle loss and roof leaks.
Anyone who has owned an asphalt shingled roof has seen the black streaks that form in the areas on the roof that get less sunlight. Commonly mistaken for mold, these streaks are actually algae that feed off of the limestone filler used in the shingles. This algae is not only an eyesore, left unchecked it can cause the granules on your shingles to fall off. It is a good idea to get rid of this menace as soon as you notice it.
As your shingle roof ages, the weather and sun exposure takes its toll. The shingles will need to be replaced at some point. You can make spot repairs due to storm or animal damage, but when the granules wear off and the shingles crack and begin to leak, then replacing the roof is the only alternative. Here are a few things to consider when getting a new shingle roof.
If a heavy storm damages a small section of shingles on your roof, replacement is a relatively easy task. Each roofing shingle is held in place with two nails, so to replace a shingle just use your hammer to remove the nail, carefully slide the shingle out of place and set it to the side. Putting the new shingle in place is easy as well: slide the new shingle in place and replace the supporting nails in the same location you removed them from. Voila! You have successfully repaired your roof!
It doesn’t take an expert to locate broken shingles--just take a look at your roof. If your roof is a bit too high for you to see much, look for discolored areas. While you shouldn’t necessarily expect that shingles will crack or fly off of your roof during a storm, you should take a look after especially heavy rain or high winds. This is a simple problem to fix, but one that you don’t want to put off for too
Residential Roofing: An aged roof may need a complete replacement, but there are many roofs that suffer hail and wind damage that can be repaired for much less money. If a few shingles have been blown off or cracked by hail, the flashing has been broken or there is evidence that a leak has developed, you might want to consider a professional repair. At Alpha, we handle roof repairs, install asphalt shingles, repair chimneys and install gutters and siding.
Replacing a loose shingle is a common type of roof repair you may have to make, especially if you have trees that grow too close to your roof. When tree branches scrape the shingles, they lift up the edges and the shingles eventually curl. Then the wind catches them during a storm and finishes ripping the shingles off the roof. Even if the shingles aren't missing completely, you still want to repair them when you notice they are twisted out of place or curled up on the ends. Here's how to go about making these roof repairs.
Regardless of type, modern asphalt shingles withstand the damages caused by rain, sun and wind better than the
As a homeowner, you need to take care of your roof when you notice a problem. One issue that will not go away on its own is algae growth. There is a potential for the algae to deteriorate shingles and create rot that will lead to leaks in your roof. Here is what you can do about algae on your roof.
Inspect Your Roof: Before the rainy season starts, take the time to inspect the condition of your roof. Dig out your ladder and look for things like loose or missing shingles and damaged flashing. Once you do an exterior inspection, head inside and take note of any water
Make sure that you clean out the gutters prior to the winter. Clogged gutters will not leave any room for water runoff to go, which brings the snow and ice closer to your roof. Once ice gets underneath your shingles, it can cause structural damage due to leaks.
Strong winds during winter storms can loosen and damage shingles. Once a shingle is loose, it can damage adjacent shingles when it's blowing around. Contact a roofing contractor if you notice any loose shingles. Replacing them early will be easier on your wallet than waiting until more damage occurs.